A staffer with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office has been fired and charged with felony death by vehicle after a Saturday crash that left the driver of another vehicle dead, according to the DA’s office. The employee, identified as Johana Martinez, worked in a non‑attorney role in the prosecutor’s office and now faces criminal warrants as State Highway Patrol troopers continue to investigate the wreck in Mecklenburg County. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather has requested a prosecutor from outside his office to take over the case and has confirmed Martinez’s termination.
State Highway Patrol troopers obtained criminal warrants in connection with the collision, and investigators say the probe is still active, according to WCNC Charlotte. The DA’s office has said Martinez faces additional charges related to the Saturday crash. Authorities have not yet released the name of the person who was killed, citing the ongoing investigation.
DA asks outside prosecutor
District Attorney Spencer Merriweather said he has asked that a special prosecutor be brought in from outside the Mecklenburg County DA’s Office so that charging decisions and courtroom work can be handled without any conflict of interest. In a statement, the office added that “we are devastated for the family of the slain driver, and they remain in our prayers in this hour of loss,” as reported by WCNC Charlotte. For an office that typically stands on the prosecution side of tragedy, this case lands uncomfortably close to home.
What the charge means
Under North Carolina law, felony death by vehicle is defined at N.C.G.S. 20‑141.4 and applies when a driver’s unlawful conduct is the proximate cause of another person’s death. Penalties can vary depending on factors such as prior offenses or other aggravating circumstances. The statute separates misdemeanor and felony death‑by‑vehicle charges and allows for more serious counts in certain scenarios, which prosecutors will weigh as the case moves forward. The full text of the law is available in N.C. General Statutes § 20‑141.4.
Next steps
The State Highway Patrol will continue its investigation while the specially appointed prosecutor handles any charging decisions and court filings tied to the crash. The DA’s office has confirmed that Martinez is no longer employed there, and, as with any defendant, she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Background on the office and its public statements can be found on the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office news page.
Authorities have not immediately released additional details about the wreck. Hoodline will update this item as courts or officials provide more information.
